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W126 Advice needed


Volksy

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I won't be seeing the owner tomorrow, as he lives in another part of the country. It'll just be an initial poke about, as i won't have access to keys etc. 

It'll either be a, It's fucked but isn't as bad as I expected, or (more likely) b, It's absolutely fucked and walk away.

 

To be honest, I'm under no illusion with this, and will be offering only what I can possibly scrape back by selling a few odds and ends and fragging it. 

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Velour was a more expensive than leather option on many cars. My e class has cloth which is unworn. The leather does not wear as well. The most long lasting is the fake leather ambla Mercedes did.

I would say the leaderboard for Mercedes is

 

1) Velour. Sumptuous and hard wearing

2) MB Tex. Indestructible and smart

3) Leather. Rare in 190s

4) Cloth.

 

Coloured cloth obviously gets bonus points.

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The W126 is a nice old boat and a very handsome car, but I agree it is outclassed by the XJ40 and E32 on the road. Velour was slightly cheaper than leather on the W126, but only by a few pounds. Both were very expensive and a way of disguising the price really, since the standard cloth Mercedes offered was grim.  I actually prefer the velour in these to the leather. The velour seems to suit them somehow and is very good quality - and I don't think the Mercedes leather seems as nice or as 'right' in the car as it does in a Jag.

 

The desirability of cloth vs leather seems to vary between cars like this. Leather seems to be a big advantage when selling a Jag - and leather trimmed cars seem to sell for more money. Rolls-Royces trimmed with Parkertex velvet seem to be worth a fair bit more than leather trimmed cars though, at least it seems that way to me.

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So, I had the evening free, and given there was a break in the storm clouds I took the Honda Jazzhands for a drive out to where the behemoth is abandoned.

 

I will say it's not a pretty sight, and I think it's too far gone for a sensible project. However, it is very very cool, in all its (very) jaded eightysness.

 

It is the car I remember, badging - in gold of course - is AMG, but the body kit could be a Zender or Lorinser kit, as they were all the rage at the time. Interior is indeed Velouuuur and it' s not too mouldy. The car was unlocked, and the bonnet popped so I managed to get photos in all its fallen glory. It's such a shame!

 

Viewed Closer Up:

post-1136-0-34038400-1500758307_thumb.jpg

 

It's on three O.Z. Racing split rims, assuming that the fourth is in the boot as it's wearing a steel spare on the rear. Tyres are flat and fubared, however they are only 15" so no big deal. I'm fear the centre caps are long gone, or are hopefully in the boot. 

 

Rims:

post-1136-0-82231300-1500758432_thumb.jpg

 

Externally it covered in moss and green 'matter' but, surprisingly there is a lot of surface rust, leading edge of the bonnet etc, but no major holes. The front wheel arches are crusty, but I've seen seven year old E-Classes much worse!

 

Green!

post-1136-0-71369500-1500758738_thumb.jpg

 

Wing:

post-1136-0-10091300-1500758883_thumb.jpg

 

The rear screen area and sunroof panel, which are problem spots from what I've researched and you guys have said, seem pretty solid - which is a surprise! I half expected the rear screen to be on the seat!

There is surface rust, but no holes.

 

Screen Surround:

post-1136-0-87747100-1500759391_thumb.jpg

 

Sunroof:

post-1136-0-71082600-1500759460_thumb.jpg

 

Inside, it's Bluey/grey velouuuuur and wood. Which hasn't delaminated, and apart from some cracked piping doesn't look in too bad a shape! Odo reads 198k, only just run in innit!

 

Interior:

post-1136-0-30654200-1500760025_thumb.jpg

 

Clocks:

post-1136-0-80313800-1500760072_thumb.jpg

 

Under the Bonnet, it's all there, nothing missing and what appears to be a recent battery, maybe it's been run recently, who knows!?!

 

post-1136-0-32362300-1500760309_thumb.jpg

 

Sadly, the underside is a mess of peeling rubberised underseal, and the floors are crumbly, which is sadly looking like its downfall, I didn't poke about too much but it seemed very soft under there. On the plus side the doors haven't dropped and shut with a heavy thunk. The pillars, which I could see, look ok, however the sills are covered with the bodykit and are assumed buggered like the floors. 

 

 

Jury is out on it for now. I'll probably make a low ball offer of scrap value and wait and see. 

post-1136-0-54230200-1500759888_thumb.jpg

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When I had the SLC I bought several old scrappers from the bay for some of the small generic parts (cheaper buying a whole car than an ignition switch for instance)

 

Fortunately I had a big space to store them at work at the car club, and I had plenty of time during the day to tear them apart (instead of working ;-) )

 

A mstching set of locks wit keys went for between 150 and 200 quid, and trim bits were always in demand so I proffed pretty well (in fact it basically turned the SLC into a free car)

 

When done I cut them up and put them in the car club skip and they got the scrap money,

 

It's the nearest I will ever get to my dream job of owning a scrapyard!!

 

Broadly speaking (and if you want to shift it quick)

Wheels 1-200 (set)

Lights 20-50 each (fronts are more)

seats can go silly money but at least 50 per bum

whole interior if good nick 5-600

I used to get 10 quid a pop for stupid little things like window wind components etc

door if reasonable nick 1-200 (posting is a bitch on those)

glass - front/back50-100 each

side glass 20 per window

You can get lots more if you are willing to wait it out (bearing in mind a new MB carpet set for one of these is in the region of 3 grand!)

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It really doesn't look that bad, the condition of the foot wells would be the deciding factor here I guess. W126 are rising in value (SECs are taking off even here in the UK), with almost 200k on the clock, I cannot see that happening for this one though, not without a complete restoration. It could be a nice cruiser, I don't think you will get a chance like this often.

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It's clearly scrap, but it would probably break very well. The wheels have a value as do any good panels, trim, engine etc. Forget putting it back on the road because it will be shit, but view it as an opportunity to make yourself a decent amount of money.

 

The W126 is in that period where there are none in scrapyards, and specialist breakers are all asking drugs money for stuff. I reckon the engine - if a nice runner - is £500 alone.

 

There's $$$$$ in that, if bought right and pulled to bits.

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I got pissed yesterday and spoke to Volksy last night in insisted that he buys this. If its too rotten he can chop it in, if not I can spend (hopefully) just a few days getting it into a testable state.

 

However he does have a more sensible head than me so my well heed my advice*. 

 

How bad can it be?

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Thanks Joe, but the owner has been back in touch saying he's going to get it restored.. (haven't we all heard that before)

 

I've a feeling that it may still come my way when the house sells and it needs to be shifted!

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Yeh, I think you may be right Joe! Although even as a breaker I would have made a bit.

 

I'm adamant I'll have a W126 or a W116 one day, Although the W116 seems to be rapidly climbing price wise.

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I love the period tuning look this one has, I really 'get' the appeal of this particular one, a black w126 oozes class and menace, especially when covered in algae!

 

I've had 4 and can confirm they know how to rot if the conditions are right. My old 560sec (sold to des) was a shocker in that respect.

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I'm guessing that he's not had any estimates through yet.

 

He claims to have had one a few years back. Which was, in his words, 'Considerable'.

 

Given the street the house is on, he's not going to be short of a few quid.

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Aye, and the Keine Ausrüstung W116 on the ebay tat thread is only £1200

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